MA in Higher Education

As the demand for knowledgeable, ethical, and diverse leaders in higher education continues to grow, the new professional MA program will help you broaden your knowledge of higher education policy, research, and practice, especially in the areas of student affairs, academic affairs, diversity, and community engagement.

We offer a supportive community and flexible coursework designed to accommodate busy professionals’ schedules. An innovative collaborative effort between the School of Education and student affairs departments on campus, the program offers a dynamic combination of academic knowledge and experiential education.

Program Requirements

Students must successfully complete 36 credit hours of approved coursework while maintaining at least a B (3.0) average in all work attempted while enrolled.

Degree Design

36 total credit hours

Foundations: 9 credits
Practice: 12 credits (includes 6 practicum credits)
Research and Evaluation: 6 credits
Capstone Seminar: 3 credits
Electives / Module Courses: 6 credits

Sample Courses

6 credit hours of research and evaluation courses. Select two from the following:

EDUC 5716 Basic Statistical Methods
EDUC 5726 Intro to Disciplined Inquiry
EDUC 7386 Educational Evaluation

9 credit hours of foundations of higher education courses. Select from the following:

EDUC 6250 Higher Education in the U.S. (Required)
EDUC 5075 Sociology in Education
EDUC 6220 Gender Issues in Education
EDUC 5085 History of American Education
EDUC 6235 Anthropology of Education
EDUC 5301 Queer(ing) Topics in Education
EDUC 7055 Philosophy of Education
EDUC 6210 Education Policy and the Law
EDUC 7446 Seminar: Policy Issues in Education

6 credit hours of Higher Education Practice seminar coursework, and 6 credit hours of Higher Education Practice practicum
coursework is required.

For the Higher Education Practice seminar coursework, select two from the following:

EDUC 6110 Student Affairs in Higher Education
EDUC 6405 College Student Development & Counseling Theories
EDUC 6705 Leadership in Higher Education

For the Higher Education Practice practicum coursework, the following 2-credit practicum is taken over the course of three
semesters (2 credits for one semester and 4 credits for one academic year):

EDUC 6919 Practicum in EFPP

Select 6 credits from the following 1-credit options:

EDUC 5010 Race and Equity in Higher Education
EDUC 5011 College Student Career Development
EDUC 5012 Higher Education Finance
EDUC 5014 Ethical Dilemmas in Higher Education
EDUC 5020 College Academic Advising
EDUC 5021 College Athletic Affairs
EDUC 5022 LGBTQ+ Topics in Higher Education
EDUC 5023 College Admissions & Enrollment
EDUC 5026 Technology in Higher Education
EDUC 5027 Institutional Advancement & Development in Higher Education
EDUC 5028 International Education in Higher Education and Student Affairs
EDUC 5030 Accessibility and Students with Disabilities in Higher Education
EDUC 5031 Institutional Research and Analytics in Higher Education
EDUC 5032 College Student Leadership Development

3 credit hour capstone course

EDUC 6945 MA Capstone Seminar in Foundations of Education

For more information about courses and program requirements, visit the CU Boulder Course Catalog.

Admissions Requirements

Admission to all our graduate programs is competitive and based on multiple criteria, including undergraduate academic record, letters of recommendation, personal statement, evidence of special accomplishments, and relevant past experience. Criteria are considered in the aggregate. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. For more information, contact edadvise@colorado.edu. Requirements include:

A Personal Statement
3 Letters of Recommendation
Unofficial Transcripts (official transcripts required after admission)
If international, TOEFL scores
Application Fee ($60 domestic application/$80 international) along with the application